Egg donors need to meet clear health and age requirements

Egg donation helps people build families when they cannot use their own eggs. It is also a real medical process that asks a lot of you. This guide explains who qualifies, what screening involves, what a cycle is like and how we protect your privacy.

It is general information, not medical advice. Your clinic's doctors make the medical decisions about your care.

The basic requirements are simple

To apply as an egg donor with Poppy, you should:

• Be between 21 and 31 years old.
• Be in good general health.
• Have a body mass index within your clinic's range [[PLACEHOLDER: BMI range]].
• Not smoke, vape or use recreational drugs.
• Have regular menstrual cycles.
• Know as much of your family's medical history as you can.
• Be willing to take daily injections for a short period and attend early morning appointments.
• Be able to travel to a fertility clinic [[PLACEHOLDER: clinic locations or travel radius]].

Some forms of long-acting birth control may need to be paused or changed before a cycle. Your clinic will tell you if this applies to you.

Pay starts at $10,000 per cycle

Egg donors at Poppy are paid from $10,000 per completed cycle. Pay is for your time, effort and discomfort. It does not depend on how many eggs are retrieved.

The intended parents also cover your medical costs, your travel, your own lawyer and an insurance policy for medical complications from the cycle [[PLACEHOLDER: confirm donor insurance details]]. Payment is released [[PLACEHOLDER: confirm payment timing, for example after retrieval]].

Screening happens in stages

Screening protects you and the family you help. It happens step by step, and you can stop at any point.

1. Application. You answer questions about your health, background and family medical history. You add photos. We ask for health information only after you agree to share it.
2. Review. Our team reviews your application and follows up with questions.
3. Matching. Intended parents review your profile. Your name and contact details are not shared.
4. Psychological evaluation. You meet with a licensed mental health professional. They make sure you understand the process and feel good about it.
5. Genetic screening. A blood or saliva test checks whether you carry certain inherited conditions.
6. Medical screening. At the clinic, you have an exam, bloodwork and an ultrasound. You are also tested for infectious diseases, as federal rules require.
7. Legal agreement. You sign a donor agreement. You have your own lawyer, paid for by the intended parents, who advises only you.

The cycle takes a few focused weeks

Once screening is done, your cycle begins. Your clinic gives you a detailed calendar.

Getting in sync. You may take medication for a short time so your cycle lines up with the clinic's schedule.

Stimulation. You give yourself small injections, usually once or twice a day, for about two weeks. They help several eggs mature at once. Your clinic teaches you how to do the injections. Most people find them easier than they expect.

Monitoring. During stimulation, you visit the clinic every few days for bloodwork and an ultrasound. These visits are usually early in the morning and fairly quick.

Trigger shot. When your eggs are ready, you take a final injection at an exact time. Retrieval follows about a day and a half later.

Retrieval. This is a short outpatient procedure. You are sedated, and the doctor uses an ultrasound-guided needle to collect the eggs. There is no incision. You need someone to drive you home, and you should plan to rest for the rest of the day.

Recovery is usually quick

Most donors feel bloated and tired for a few days. Many return to normal activity within a day or two. Your clinic will tell you which activities to avoid until your next period.

Like any medical procedure, egg donation has risks. One is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which is why your clinic monitors you closely. Your doctors will explain the risks in detail before you start, and you can ask as many questions as you need.

You are also very fertile during and right after a cycle. Your clinic will talk with you about avoiding pregnancy during this time.

The time commitment is real but limited

From application to retrieval, the process usually takes [[PLACEHOLDER: typical range from application to retrieval]]. Much of that is waiting for a match.

The busiest stretch is the two weeks or so of stimulation, with several short clinic visits, followed by retrieval day and a day of rest. If your clinic is not local, travel and hotel costs are paid.

Your privacy is protected

We never share your name, address or contact details with intended parents unless you agree to it. Your profile uses a donor number.

There are different types of donation:

• Anonymous. No identifying information is shared, and no contact is planned.
• Known. You and the intended parents know each other or agree to meet.
• Open identity. You agree that the child may contact you after reaching adulthood.

You choose the arrangement that fits you, and your agreement records it. Be aware that consumer DNA testing means no one can promise complete anonymity forever. We will talk this through with you honestly.

Your information is stored securely and handled as our Privacy Policy describes.

You can donate more than once, within limits

Many donors donate again. There are guidelines that limit how many cycles one person should complete. Your clinic will tell you what applies to you.

The first step takes a few minutes

If you meet the basic requirements, you can start with our short pre-screen. A real person on our team reads every application and will follow up with you.

This article is general information. It is not medical or legal advice.